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Undermatching in humans to amount of reinforcement
S Bangert1, L Green1, M Snyderman2
1Dept. of Psychology, Washington University, St. Louis, MO 63130, USA.
Behavioural Processes
|June 14, 2014
Summary
Human participants in a concurrent-chain task demonstrated undermatching to reinforcement amount. This effect intensified with longer initial links, aligning with delay reduction theory.
Area of Science:
- Behavioral psychology
- Operant conditioning principles
Background:
- Concurrent-chain procedures are used to study choice behavior.
- Animal studies show undermatching to reinforcement amount.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate human choice behavior in a concurrent-chain procedure.
- To examine the effect of reinforcement amount and initial link values on choice.
- To test Fantino's delay reduction hypothesis in humans.
Main Methods:
- Human subjects underwent a concurrent-chain procedure without verbal instructions.
- Key-press operant and consummatory responses were shaped.
- Varied reinforcement amounts in terminal links and initial link values.
Main Results:
- Human subjects exhibited undermatching to reinforcement amount, similar to animals.
- Undermatching increased as initial link values increased.
- Findings support the delay reduction hypothesis.
Conclusions:
- Human choice behavior in concurrent-chain tasks mirrors animal behavior.
- Longer initial links decrease preference for larger rewards.
- Delay reduction is a key factor in choice behavior.
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